[crick]

Don't know who wrote it but thought it was cute.


The Christmas Pageant

My husband and I had been happily
married (most of the time)
for five years
but hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious
praying and promised God
that if he would give us a
child, I would be a perfect mother,
love it with all my heart
and raise it with His word
as my guide.

God answered my prayers
and blessed us with a son.

The next year God blessed us
with another son.

The following year,
He blessed us with
yet another son.

The year after that, we
were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd
been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children,
and the oldest was only
four years old.

I learned never to ask God
for anything unless I meant it.
As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain,
make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses
of the Bible to the children
each day as they lay in their cribs.

I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me
with four children and
I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day
the children smashed
two dozen eggs on
the kitchen floor searching
for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...

when they started a hotel for
homeless frogs in the spare bedroom,
although it took me nearly two hours
to catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured
ketchup all over herself and
rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog,
I tried to see the humor
rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over
twenty-five thousand diapers,
never eating a hot meal,
and never sleeping for more
than thirty minutes at a time,
I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise
to be a perfect mother -
I didn't even come close...
I did keep my promise
to raise them with the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark
just a little when I told
my daughter we were going
to church to worship God,
and she wanted to bring
a bar of soap along to
"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost
in the translation when
I explained that
God gave us everlasting life,
and my son thought it was
generous of God to give
us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came
during the children's
Christmas pageant....

My daughter was playing Mary,
two of my sons were shepherds
and my youngest son was a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd
had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."

But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped
in wrinkled clothes."

My four-year-old "Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.
That's dirty, rotten clothes."

A wrestling match broke out
between Mary and the shepherd
and was stopped by an angel,
who bent her halo and lost
her left wing.

I slouched a little lower
in my seat when Mary
dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced
down the aisle crying,
"Mama-mama."

Mary grabbed the doll,
wrapped it back up
and held it tightly as
the wise men arrived.

My other son stepped forward
wearing a bathrobe
and a paper crown,
knelt at the manger
and announced,
"We are the three wise men,
and we are bringing gifts
of gold,
common sense
and fur."

The congregation
dissolved into laughter,
and the pageant
got a standing ovation.

"I've never enjoyed a Christmas
program as much as this one,"
laughed the pastor,
wiping tears from his eyes.

"For the rest of my life,
I'll never hear the
Christmas story without
thinking of
gold,
common sense
and fur."

"My children are my pride
and my joy and my greatest
blessing," I said as I dug
through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree,
yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.

Feel honored
to serve such a Leader
who loves us.

Remember Jesus is the reason
for the season.

GOD BLESS YOU
ALL!!!

[bajj]

I like that crick, how funny, and true!

[aclee]

When we were younger my sister and I were both angels in our Church Christmas Pagent. We were decked out in sheets and garland and we were sure we were the most beautiful angels that lived. We had no lines, all the was required was to stand, with our arms out, hand just touching, in a three person horses shoe like shape with the Holy Family in the middle...stand with our arms at a 90 degree angle to our bodies...For. the. whole. show. By 15 minutes in my sister and I were trying to rest our hand on top of each others to get some relief from our aching arms. Course neither one of us wanted to support our own aching arm, and our sisters so our hands were rapidly going in small circles around each others, always in an attempt to have the arm on top so we could rest just that one arm. Might be hard to picture. The whole way home my Dad was crying with laughter about his two "angels" who looked like they were both trying to fly with one arm. That other angel must have done Yoga or practiced with an Arms of Steel tape maybe...something...she never moved the whole time!

[Withay]

Oh I love those.

[nikkianni]

I loved that!

One year I was Mary for our church pageant and I threw a royal tantrum (and I was normally a really calm kid) because Mom made me use my little girl doll as the baby Jesus and she was a GIRL not a BOY! Lol.
I pouted all through the pageant.
To this day my Mom figures it must've been the sugar that did it.

[kelceesmom]

Thanks for sharing that. It was great!

[mrsred]

Thanks crick. Reading this on the eve of our Big Christmas Pageant, as I try not to stress over whether or not my oldest son really knows all his lines, my oder daughter actually hits all her cues, my 8 yr old doesn't have a meltdown when he realizes the santuary is full, and people are laughing every time he speaks, my 4 yr old manages to leave her dress down during all thier songs and that I remember my own monologue, and don't hit the bad notes when our little adult group sings O Holy Night acapella.

[crick]

I love seeing the pageants...or any recital where kids are the focus really, because something ALWAYS happens! lol!!

Aclee - I bet she had thin wires attached to hold up her arms

Nikki - The sugar?? LOL! My dd would do the exact same thing...she's a "this is just NOT correct!" need for details kid.

MrsRed - As long as you have fun...it's all good. Just in case though, could you film this? We will want to watch I'm sure!!

[zebramom]

Leave it to you Crick.

Not only is the message beautiful, but I can see picture Crick or me being that mother. Of course Crick would have probably jumped into the middle of the fight.

[mrsred]

We survived our Christmas program. My oldest played a wonderful trumpet duet, then played the donkey in a sort of Nativity story from the viewpoint of the animals. He got all his lines right even! My older daughter was a wonderful "lead chicken" and hit all her cues. My 8 yr old son was a rooster and despite his anxiety disorder he managed to stay up in front and only missed one line. Ouyr four year old stole the show.. she knew all the songs better than even the older kids, and she sang them so well we could hear her voice above everyone else. She stole the show!
Oh, and me, I only forgot my lines once, and managed to get a good laugh while digging my way out.